{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,8]],"date-time":"2025-10-08T09:10:11Z","timestamp":1759914611965,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,4]],"date-time":"2025-10-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1759536000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Behavioral Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The study investigates how Turkish science teachers view and understand skill-based questions (SBQs). SBQs aim to assess higher-order cognitive skills, such as critical thinking and problem-solving, in line with global standards like PISA and TIMSS. The data collected via the Word Association Test (WAT) revealed teachers\u2019 conceptual frameworks and attitudes toward SBQs. The most frequently associated terms were \u2018cognitive based\u2019 and \u2018culturally context consistency\u2019. Teachers expressed mixed perceptions, with concerns about SBQs\u2019 alignment with international standards, literacy, validity, and the stress they impose on students. Statistical analyses showed that teachers\u2019 cognitive structures lack integration, indicating confusion and limited understanding. The findings highlight the need for enhanced teacher training, clearer guidelines and addressing the gaps between policy and practice. This study contributes to educational assessment reforms by emphasizing the importance of supporting teachers in using SBQs effectively.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/bs15101356","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,6]],"date-time":"2025-10-06T08:10:51Z","timestamp":1759738251000},"page":"1356","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Science Teachers\u2019 Perceptions and Cognitive Structures About Skill-Based Questions"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3231-4197","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nail","family":"\u0130lhan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Education, Inonu University, Battalgazi 44280, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8164-7073","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sultan","family":"\u015ean","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Graduate School of Education, Inonu University, Battalgazi 44000, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.21580\/jec.2021.3.1.6546","article-title":"The analysis of HOTS (higher order thinking skills) questions based on brookhart category in the 2013 curriculum high school chemistry textbook","volume":"3","author":"Agustina","year":"2021","journal-title":"Journal of Educational Chemistry"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.5539\/ies.v11n6p8","article-title":"The level of high-order thinking and its relation to quality of life among students at Ajloun University College","volume":"11","author":"Salem","year":"2018","journal-title":"International Education Studies"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"69","DOI":"10.17509\/jsl.v4i1.25441","article-title":"Using the word association test to examine life skills cognitive structures of pre-service science teachers","volume":"4","author":"Alaca","year":"2020","journal-title":"Journal of Science Learning"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"813","DOI":"10.37669\/milliegitim.1105091","article-title":"Orta\u00f6\u011fretime ge\u00e7i\u015f s\u0131navlar\u0131ndaki fen bilimleri dersi sorular\u0131n\u0131n baz\u0131 de\u011fi\u015fkenlere g\u00f6re analizi [An analyzes of science questions in secondary education entrance exams according to different variables]","volume":"52","year":"2023","journal-title":"Milli E\u011fitim"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"134","DOI":"10.1080\/00219266.1999.9655653","article-title":"Investigation of students\u2019 cognitive structure in elementary genetics through word association tests","volume":"33","author":"Bahar","year":"1999","journal-title":"Journal of Biological Education"},{"key":"ref_6","first-page":"68","article-title":"Fen bilgisi \u00f6\u011fretmen adaylar\u0131n\u0131n kelime ili\u015fkilendirme testi (K\u0130T) kullan\u0131larak k\u00fctle ve a\u011f\u0131rl\u0131k kavramlar\u0131na ili\u015fkin bili\u015fsel yap\u0131lar\u0131n\u0131n belirlenmesi [Cognitive constructs related to mass and weight concepts of science teacher candidates: Application of word association test (WAT)]","volume":"3","year":"2018","journal-title":"Eski\u015fehir Osmangazi \u00dcniversitesi T\u00fcrk D\u00fcnyas\u0131 Uygulama ve Ara\u015ft\u0131rma Merkezi (EST\u00dcDAM) E\u011fitim Dergisi"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"325","DOI":"10.29329\/ijpe.2021.329.21","article-title":"Views of turkish teachers on skills-based turkish questions","volume":"17","author":"Bayburtlu","year":"2021","journal-title":"International Journal of Progressive Education"},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"Brooks, J. 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